Eu in brief" "
As the beginning of the next revolving Presidency of the EU (July-December 2003) approaches, the priorities of the Italian government for a crucial six months in the process of European integration are being defined. Institutional reforms: The Convention on the future of Europe will present its draft Constitution during the Salonica Summit on 20 June, even though the handing over of the final draft is expected to take place in Rome on 18 July. The Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) will open in Rome on 25 October: it will have the job of adopting the European Constitution and completing the institutional reforms of the enlarged Union. Enlargement: Italy will have the task of invigilating that both the Fifteen and the ten new members make the necessary efforts to meet the objectives dictated by the Lisbon Strategy: employment, growth, social cohesion, environment, innovation and integration of the internal market. Middle East: The peace process in the Middle East is the real challenge for the Italian government. If the Road Map proposed by the Quartet (USA, UNO, EU and Russia), and formally accepted by Israel and by the Palestinian Authority, is already being contested, and threatens to be wrecked, by the more extremist wings of the two sides, Italy will propose a Peace Conference to be held in the autumn on the basis of a ‘Global Plan’ in which economic development, intercultural dialogue and democratisation of the institutions are all meshed together. External relations: There are four main priorities: turning the Mediterranean into an area of peace, dialogue and stability, also through the establishment of a Bank for the Mediterranean and a Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Culture (with headquarters in Crete); healing relations with the USA after the rift caused by the war in Iraq; bringing Russia closer to the EU by strengthening so-called ‘energy dialogue’ and promoting relations on the institutional and commercial levels and that of the crackdown on organized crime; and “accompanying the Balkans into Europe”, by preparing future EU enlargement to the six countries of the region, which could happen in 2013. Terrorism and security: Italy intends to pursue the work performed by previous presidencies to combat the new terrorist threats to European security. Greater resources will be allocated to military and judicial cooperation at the international level. Research: The Italian government intends to increase the percentage of EU (and national) GDP allocated to research and improve the quality of the projects funded by the Community. Poverty and development: boosting collaboration with the UNO and world governments to reduce the foreign debt of the developing countries, promoting educational programmes, facilitating access to healthcare and investments, strengthening accords already in force with the less advanced countries.
